veteran’s ability to work. The findings are reached by assessing either singular medical conditions or cumulative symptoms. Under the New York State regulations, veterans who have received such compensation ratings from the VA will get priority in applying for any of the state’s ten different types of licenses.
Service-disabled veterans will thus be a part of the first wave of licenses issued when New York finalizes their regulations and begins issuing licenses, likely sometime in 2023. In the interim, service-disabled veterans can get a start on their cannabis entrepreneurship by getting certified as a service-disabled veteran owned business (“SDVOB”). This certification will expedite the review under the cannabis regulatory bodies when the applications open. Getting established early can also give businesses an early bite at names, domains, trademarks, and real estate. In addition, there are other preliminary steps to take including developing a business plan, securing investments, plotting location, and preparing application qualifications that can help service-disabled veterans stay ahead of this game in this quickly-growing industry.